Sunday worship podcast link and other news: April 21 2024

 

Dear Friends Listen to today's worship podcast by clicking on the picture above.  Anne Le Bas Worship Online Worship podcast - Click on picture above Order of service (I am having problems with the phone-in version of this podcast, so have had to suspend it. Spotify is also playing up, so if you subscribe on Spotify,  this week's and future podcasts can be found here. Access to past podcasts here. It is simpler to use the Youtube link in the picture above, however!) DONATE TO SEAL CHURCH HERE - all contributions gratefully received to keep the church thriving!

In the church building today 10 am  Holy Communion and Baptism: Robin Thomas 6.30pm Evensong (said with hymns) This week:  Wed                        No Zoom Church                                 4.30pm Children's Choir in the hall                                 7.15pm Choir Thurs                      8pm Parochial Church Council meeting Friday                     9am Morning prayer in church                                10.30am Friday Group in the Church Hall                                Next Sunday  10 am  Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong (said with hymns)

Easter 4 The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is so familiar to us that we probably hardly question what it might have meant at the time. Shepherding is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for leadership because the roots of ancient Israel were as  nomadic herdspeople. In today's Gospel passage, from John 10, Jesus unpacks what the difference between good and bad shepherds are. The former care about their sheep because they are their sheep; the latter don't because they are just hired, and facing down wolves is above their pay grade. But which is Jesus? That will only become apparent when he dies on the cross, refusing to back down on his message that God's love is for everyone, even the "sheep" who are not part of the "fold" of Israel.  This Bible passage doesn't just challenge us to think about the leadership of Jesus, but also who we choose to follow today, and why, and how we exercise authority ourselves.

All Age Ideas Jesus says that he is the "good shepherd". People in his time were used to having sheep and shepherds around them. The sheep weren't kept in fields, though. They wandered over the rocky hillsides, and could easily get lost.  They needed to be able to recognise the sound of the shepherd's voice, someone they could trust to look after them. In the same way, said Jesus, those who followed him learned to recognise his voice, which would always be telling them to love one another.  Whose voices do you recognise straight away, even if you can't see them? You could make a sheep - cotton wool or crinkled tissue paper makes good "fleece", but you could find something else that worked if you haven't got any - and put it somewhere to help you remember that God cares for you like a shepherd cares for its sheep.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS ELECTORAL ROLL If you are not on our Electoral Roll, and would like to be, please fill in a form which you can find at the back of the church, or download here. Being on the church Electoral Roll qualifies you to vote at the Annual Meeting on May 12, but also means that, if you don’t live in the parish, you could be buried in the churchyard, if you want to. The closing date for applications is April 21st. Completed forms should be returned to the Electoral Roll officer, Wivine Turner, c/o The Vicarage, Church Street, Seal, TN15 0AR UPDATE ON SEAL CHURCH CLOCK THE PROBLEM The clock was installed in 1854 and has been regularly maintained by Gillett&Johnson (G&J) of Edenbridge. During 2022 it became increasingly temperamental, and G&J advised that some bearings had become worn and some teeth were damaged. They recommended that the clock be removed, repaired and reinstalled. Permission for this from the Diocese of Rochester is required, and was first requested in January 2023. WHERE ARE WE NOW? Unfortunately the Diocesan Clock Adviser, whose advice is required for approval to be given, died just before Christmas 2022. This caused long delays as the work had to be covered by the person holding the equivalent role in Southwark Diocese We were required to obtain several quotes, which was a time consuming process as there are few church clock maintenance specialists in the country. In the event their quotes differed widely, and there were concerns expressed by the Diocese that the possible scale of the work might escalate. It has taken a while to resolve this and to come to a sensible view of what is really needed. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The Diocese has today confirmed that in the next few days it will send the paperwork confirming approval to the works being carried out by G&J, and they have been asked to advise when the work will be completed. Hopefully this long running saga is near its end, and it won’t be long before we have a working clock chiming the hours once again! Many thanks for your patience and understanding! Paul Thompson     12 April 2024 SATURDAY MAY 4TH, VINE GARDENS SEVENOAKS  10.30-4PM SEVENOAKS CLIMATE FAIR Free entry - all welcome! Talks, stalls, workshops, food and drink and much more! Bringing businesses, charities and community groups together, and anybody else who is passionate about the climate emergency to empower Sevenoaks to reach Net Zero. SO.... IS YOUR GRANNY A DAB HAND WITH A LITTER PICKER? HAS YOUR BUSINESS WALKED THE EXTRA MILE TO CUT ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT? This event will champion the local unsung climate heroes, taking grassroot action to save the planet. So if you, or you know of anybody, group or business, meeting this criteria, please get in touch - email sevenoaksclimatefair@gmail.com and give the name, age, and story of your nominee in no more than 200 words. A photo would be great too!Winners will be announce at the S CAN CLIMATE FAIR at the above event. SATURDAY MAY 11TH SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS MIDDAY - 3PM   Plant Sale and Refreshments - ALL WELCOME! SEAL VILLAGE HALL NEWS The feedback regarding the idea of a pop-up cinema, has been phenominal - clearly a popular idea, and one that the Friends of Seal Village Hall, look forward to getting set up. If you haven't already, please let me know if you would be interested in coming along to such an event, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ABLE, to help with the organisation of it. We all look forward to further responses. SEAL PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY THURSDAY MAY 15TH Seal Pavilion at 7.30pm. All welcome. GARDEN SAFARI REQUESTS New gardens and raffle prizes + plants for the Seal Garden Safari If you have a lovely garden in Seal, please contact me about opening it on Sunday 30 th June at the next Garden safari. I would also like any spare raffle prizes and plants (house or garden) for the safari. In the next few weeks … this is the ideal time to divide your perennials. The money raised this year will be going to Cancer and Mind charities. In other years we have raised about £400 for the raffle and plants which is about half of the money! Thanks to the people who have already said YES to me! Many thanks in advance Frances Fish 01732 760007 mob 07749240456